Gallery: Voices on the economy

Ryan Jackson, edmontonjournal.com11.19.2009

Read what various business leaders have to say about Edmonton's economic situation.

Ryan Jackson
/ edmontonjournal.com

“You’ve got 28-year-old guys driving $50,000 trucks in Fort McMurray and they do their retail shopping in Edmonton because there’s not a lot of retail in Fort Mac because there’s not much serviced land up there.” John Marotta, senior vice-president western region Bentall Kennedy (Canada) LPJournal file
/ edmontonjournal.com

“The downturn is over and business is about to return to pre-recession levels. We have to make sure we’re prepared for the labour challenges we know are coming our way.” Sue Melik, director of recruiting at Ledcor Industries Inc.Journal file
/ edmontonjournal.com

“It is a good idea to get more money for your products.” Ian MacGregor, chairman of North West upgradingJournal file
/ edmontonjournal.com

A new approach “gives us the ability if there is a labour crunch or if costs take off that we can just slow down and wait for it to blow over.” CNRL president Steve LautJournal file
/ edmontonjournal.com

“We’re at full employment today. Everybody who wants to work in our industry has got a job.” Paul Verhesen, president Clark BuildersJournal file
/ edmontonjournal.com

“This is my third recession and this reminds me of one of my old Chevys. You put your foot on the accelerator and it would take a while and then it goes. That’s where we are right now. We know it’s coming.” Bob Walker, vice-president, Northern Alberta, Ledcor Construction Ltd.Journal file
/ edmontonjournal.com

“There’s good strong growth, good high income, good family housing, good family values — all things that have been successful for us before.” Alan Huggins, president of Lowe’s Companies CanadaRick MacWilliam
/ edmontonjournal.com

"You can’t really deny that industry up here is not only the driver of growth in our region, but in the province and country as well." Fort McMurray Mayor Melissa BlakeGreg Halinda, Special to The Journal
/ edmontonjournal.com

"Calgary and Edmonton are not two entities, but both are part of a great province. This attitude of us-or-them is really bad for business." Wendy Cooper, chief executive at Port AlbertaJournal file
/ edmontonjournal.com

"Alberta’s economy is doing quite well, and we’re in a very enviable spot if you look at the G8 countries or many regions in the U.S. It’s hard to find a place right now that’s actually doing better than Alberta or Western Canada in general." Todd Hirsch, ATB Financial’s senior economistJournal file
/ edmontonjournal.com

"The economy probably plays into it, but really for Cabela’s the most important thing is to make sure we start our business where the per-capita users are there and that’s the idea in northern Alberta." Jeff Tymo, general manager of the Edmonton Cabela’sJournal file
/ edmontonjournal.com

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